Thursday, 29 January 2026

Exercise (4.5).2

Determine the following:

(a) $\sigma (15)$

(b) $\sigma (77)$

(c) $\sigma (171)$

(d) $\sigma (200)$


The sigma function of a natural number $n$ is the sum of its positive divisors, including 1 and $n$ itself.


(a) $\sigma (15) = 1 + 3 + 5 + 15 = 24$


(b) $\sigma (77) = 1 + 7 + 11 + 77 = 96$


(c) $\sigma (171) = 1 + 3 + 3^2 + 19 + (3\times19) + 171 = 260$


(d) $\sigma(200) = 1 + 2 + 2^2 + 2^3 + 5 + 5^2 + (2 \times 5) + (2^2 \times 5) + (2^3 \times 5) + (2 \times 5^2) + (2^2 \times 5^2) + 200 = 465 $